Long nose manipulatable catheter

Abstract

The long nose manipulatable catheter includes a main lumen, a wire lumen with a push-pull wire therethrough, and a flexible joint region. The catheter section includes a control including a handle and a wire control member engaging the push-pull wire for manipulating the flexible joint region. The push-pull wire may be tapered, having a proximal portion of a first diameter and a smaller diameter distal portion. A coil may be placed around the smaller diameter to prevent buckling of the smaller diameter portion. A strapping coil may also disposed around the outside of the catheter, and an outer covering may be disposed around the strapping coil. An outer covering of a mesh may also be disposed around the distal tip of the catheter.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A catheter section comprising:
 a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end, said catheter body including a distal flexible joint region, a main lumen extending through said catheter body and through said flexible joint region, and a wire lumen adjacent to said main lumen and extending through said catheter body and through said flexible joint region, the wire lumen of said flexible joint region having an opening near or at a distal end of the flexible joint region; 
 a push-pull wire disposed in said wire lumen, said push-pull wire being configured to be pushed distally and pulled proximally along a longitudinal axis of the wire through the wire lumen, the distal end of said push-pull wire attached to said distal flexible joint region such that translation of said push-pull wire distally or proximally effects flexion of said distal flexible joint region of said catheter, the push-pull wire having a proximal portion of a first diameter and a distal portion of a smaller diameter than said first diameter, and the wire lumen including a lubricious lining along at least a substantial portion of the wire lumen; 
 a coil disposed in said wire lumen around the smaller diameter distal portion of said push-pull wire, said coil being wound in close contact with said smaller diameter distal portion of said push-pull wire and configured to limit lateral deflection of the smaller diameter distal portion of said push-pull wire sufficient to prevent rupture of said wire lumen and said catheter body by said smaller diameter distal portion of said push-pull wire when said push-pull wire is pushed distally, and a coating of a material with a low coefficient of friction disposed over the push-pull wire; and 
 a control in communication with a proximal end of the push-pull wire, said control being configured to push said push-pull wire distally and pull said push-pull wire proximally to control flexion of the flexible joint region. 
 
     
     
       2. The catheter section of  claim 1 , further comprising a strapping coil disposed around the outside of the catheter, said strapping coil being configured to prevent said catheter body from rupturing when said push-pull wire is pushed. 
     
     
       3. The catheter section of  claim 2 , further comprising an outer covering formed of a polymeric material disposed around the strapping coil. 
     
     
       4. The catheter section of  claim 3 , wherein the outer covering disposed around the strapping coil is formed of PEBAX. 
     
     
       5. The catheter section of  claim 1 , further comprising an outer covering of a mesh formed of a polymeric material disposed around the distal tip of the catheter, said mesh being configured to prevent said catheter body from rupturing when said push-pull wire is pushed. 
     
     
       6. The catheter section of  claim 5 , wherein the mesh is formed of polyethylene terephthalate. 
     
     
       7. The catheter section of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one radio-opaque band near or at the distal end of the flexible joint region. 
     
     
       8. The catheter section of  claim 1 , wherein the wire lumen further comprises a braid along at least a substantial portion of the wire lumen. 
     
     
       9. The catheter section of  claim 8 , wherein the braid terminates proximally of the flexible joint region. 
     
     
       10. The catheter section of  claim 1 , wherein the main lumen further comprises a lining along at least a substantial portion of the main lumen. 
     
     
       11. The catheter section of  claim 10 , wherein the lining comprises a lubricious lining. 
     
     
       12. The catheter section of  claim 7 , wherein said push-pull wire extends through said opening of said wire lumen at said distal end of said flexible joint region, and is attached to said marker band.